poppy

adjective

pop·​py ˈpä-pē 

poppier; poppiest

: characteristic of popular music especially in being catchy or broadly appealing

a poppy summertime song

"Heart Clicks," the first single and poppiest song on the album, came together overnight as Usher grappled with writer's block.

—David Friend

Aiming for an off-the-wall yet poppy vibe, his latest single … touches on issues that everyone can relate to in some way.

—Beverley Knight

… the group—despite its infatuation with raw, bluesy textures—plays with a crispness that makes even its more sardonic numbers seem relatively bright and poppy.

—Elysa Gardner

By now Chvrches have … repeatedly expressed frustration at people reading unintended messages into their music. Perhaps that's why the two most traditionally poppy songs here are the most pointed: so as to leave no room for misunderstanding.

—Katherine St. Asaph

A Flock of Seagulls sounded like a more cheerful, poppier version of the guitar-driven Irish band U2 on its first album …

—Jon Pareles

Examples of poppy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The rock was streaked in a range of colors—red, green, purple, and blue—flecked with poppy-seed-like dots and decorated with what the Perseverance scientists compared to dull yellow leopard spots. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 June 2026

One of the most common types, poppy apricots ripen early in the season and are larger with yellow or orange flesh. —Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 30 May 2026

Make Matteau’s shirred strappy number your go-to this summer, styled with a pair of Ancient Greek Sandals lace-up flats, Auralee’s poppy-red button-up layered on top, and Sensi Studio’s roomy raffia tote. —Laura Jackson, Vogue, 11 May 2026

At Fairmont Bagel, dig into its original poppy-seed bagel. —Megan Wallitsch, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

pop entry 6 + -y entry 1

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing poppy

• California poppy
• corn poppy
• Iceland poppy
• opium poppy
• Oriental poppy
• poppy seed
• prickly poppy
• Shirley poppy

Rhymes for poppy

• choppy
• copy
• floppy
• sloppy
• atopy
• photocopy

Kids Definition

poppy

noun

pop·​py ˈpäp-ē 

plural poppies

: any of a genus of herbs that have milky juice, showy flowers, and a fruit that is a capsule and include one that is the source of opium and several that are grown as ornamental plants

Medical Definition

poppy

noun

pop·​py ˈpäp-ē 

plural poppies

: any herb of the genus Papaver (family Papaveraceae, the poppy family)

especially : opium poppy